How Can a Foreigner Obtain Polish Citizenship?

Ways to Acquire Polish Citizenship

There are several ways to obtain Polish citizenship, as outlined in the Polish Citizenship Act.

Birth – The Principle of Descent (Ius Sanguinis)
A child automatically acquires Polish citizenship if at least one of the parents is a Polish citizen, regardless of the place of birth (Art. 14, point 1).

Birth on the Territory of Poland – The Principle of Territory (Ius Soli)
A child born or found in Poland, whose parents are unknown, unidentified, or stateless, acquires Polish citizenship by law (Art. 14, point 2, Art. 15).

Adoption
A child adopted by a Polish citizen acquires citizenship if the adoption took place before the child turned 16. In this case, the child is considered to have had Polish citizenship from the moment of birth.

Granting Citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland
The President of the Republic of Poland can grant citizenship upon the request of a foreigner, regardless of fulfilling formal requirements. Granting Polish citizenship also includes children, if they are under the parental authority of the granted parent.

How to obtain citizenship through this path? You must submit an application through a consul or a voivode. The approval of the application depends solely on the Head of State.

Recognition as a Polish Citizen – How Does It Work?

A foreigner can apply for Polish citizenship if they meet one of the following conditions:

3-Year Residence in Poland
A person has legally and continuously resided in Poland for at least 3 years on the basis of permanent residence, long-term EU resident status, or permanent residence rights. They must also have a stable source of income and a place of residence in Poland.

2-Year Residence and Marriage to a Pole
A person has legally resided in Poland for at least 2 years and has been married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, or they are stateless.

Refugee Status
A person who has been granted refugee status has continuously resided in Poland for at least 2 years on the basis of an appropriate permit.

Child Under 18
A child may acquire citizenship if one parent is a Polish citizen, and the other parent consents to granting citizenship to the child. If one of the parents regained Polish citizenship, it is also possible for the child to acquire citizenship.

10-Year Residence in Poland
A person has legally resided in Poland for at least 10 years, with stable income and residence.

Polish Descent or the Polish Card
A person has legally resided in Poland for at least 1 year on the basis of permanent residence obtained due to Polish descent or holding the Polish Card.

Additionally, anyone applying for citizenship must demonstrate knowledge of the Polish language at least at the B1 level.

An application for recognition as a Polish citizen should be submitted to the appropriate voivodeship office.

Restoration of Polish Citizenship

How can you obtain Polish citizenship if you lost it before January 1, 1999? You must submit an application for the restoration of Polish citizenship to the Minister of the Interior or through a consul.

Important! If citizenship was voluntarily renounced, you cannot use this procedure. Instead, you should apply for the granting of Polish citizenship.

How to Check if You Have Polish Citizenship?

For people born abroad, the issue of citizenship is often unclear. If you are wondering how to obtain Polish citizenship, make sure first that you do not already possess it by law. To verify this, you should submit an application for confirmation of Polish citizenship.

How to Obtain Polish Citizenship – Seek Professional Help

If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements for Polish citizenship or do not know how to submit your application, reach out to us. Comprehensive support for foreigners is our specialty. We will advise you on which documents to gather to obtain Polish citizenship and how to complete the application.

We also provide support in other areas such as:

• Legalization of stay and work
• Invitation for a foreigner
• Work permits in Poland
• Temporary and permanent residence permits
• Extension of work and residence permits in Poland
• District office information for foreigners
• Visas for foreigners

Summary

How can a foreigner obtain Polish citizenship? Foreigners can acquire Polish citizenship in several ways, including by birth (principle of descent or territory), adoption, recognition by a voivode, or granting by the President of the Republic of Poland. Citizenship can also be restored in some cases. Each of these paths has specific requirements, and applications are submitted to the appropriate offices. If you have doubts about your situation, it is advisable to seek professional help, which will assist you in preparing documents and completing your application.